Quincy Regulators Strike Back

The regulatory state, and nosy neighbors are striking back against a couple trying to make a little extra cash in the sharing economy. This week, Quincy officials raided the home of a couple using the sharing site airbnb.com.

For those of you who don’t know airbnb it is a website whereby you can rent a room from a person in their home or apartment. It is often cheaper than a local hotel. It is part of the newly developing sharing economy like the ride share app uber.

If you own your home, there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to earn money off the extra space you have. It is your property, you should be able to do what you want with it. Here is the Patriot Ledger story.

After complaints from neighbors, a half-dozen officials from the city’s police, fire and inspectional services departments arrived unannounced at 85 Bayside Road just after 11 a.m. Friday to issue a fine to the homeowner, Richard Cope, for violating zoning and building codes.

Director of Inspectional Services Director Jay Duca said the $1,000 fine is due to a second-offense violation. Duca said the city issued Cope a $500 fine on July 17 for the first offense.

“It’s a use violation. They’re running a transient lodging facility in a residential district,” he said. “It’s also a building code violation for failing to change the occupancy.”